Family Literacy Week celebrated at libraries throughout ORL region

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January 22, 2016 - 12:00 PM

OKANAGAN - BC-wide Family Literacy Week is celebrated Jan. 23 to 30, 2016 in conjunction with Canada’s national Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27. During this time, many Okanagan Regional Library Branches are hosting special family events to encourage and celebrate reading together and its many benefits.

Research provides strong evidence for the contribution parent-child interaction makes to children’s literacy and language development; when parents are more involved and engaged, children tend to do better academically and socially. Unfortunately in B.C., one in four children is “developmentally vulnerable” when beginning kindergarten and four in 10 youths aged 15 have insufficient reading skills.

ORL librarians know that making literacy fun and interactive is key to promoting reading success in families. Branches throughout the ORL’s area have created special programs celebrating family literacy. All activities are free and drop-in, except where noted.

At the Vernon Branch, the fun begins on Saturday, Jan. 23 with a puppet show at 10:30 a.m. and a Disney’s Frozen Party at 2 p.m. Storytimes take place at 3:30 p.m. each day from Tuesday, Jan. 27 to Friday, Jan. 29, and the week caps off with “Hockey Adventures” on Saturday, Jan. 30.

At the Salmon Arm Branch in Piccadilly Mall, the Friends of the Library Book Sale coincides with Family Literacy Week. Pick up inexpensive reads and support programs at the library at the sale outside the library entrance on Friday, Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

In Kelowna, the week kicks off with an “Unplug and Play” party at the Laurel Packinghouse on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are multiple storytimes scheduled for babies and toddlers throughout the week at the downtown Kelowna Branch on Ellis Street, as well as a Pyjama Storytime on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required for the “Crazy Cool Cities” LEGO Builders Club on Thursday, Jan. 28; contact the branch at 250-762-2800, Ext. 2823 for times.

Armstrong Branch has three “Unplug and Play” family events. On Saturday, Jan. 23 at 2pm is Family Art Project, a time for the whole family to create their own art piece. All materials are provided. Unplug and Colour, is a drop in program for all ages on Friday, Jan. 29 from 6pm to 8pm. Bring your own books and crayons, or use the ones provided by the Library. “Unplug and Play: Say What?” is a fun and funny imagination game on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2pm.

The Mission Branch is also hosting an “Unplug and Play” colouring session but strictly for adults on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The Summerland Branch is celebrating Family Literacy Day on Tuesday, Jan. 26 with a Keva Creations party from 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Families can construct a tower with Keva planks, then build a reading stack with the ORL’s “100 Great Books” reading lists.

At the Naramata Branch, everyone is invited for a family board game night on Thursday, Jan. 28 from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Bring your own favourite game or participate in one from our librarian’s collection.

The Westbank Branch has many activities scheduled this week such as making monster origami bookmarks on Jan. 23 at 3:30pm, a skipping demonstration by the Black Widow Rope Spinners on Jan. 25 at 4pm, animal and shape yoga on Jan. 27 at 3:30, as well as several storytimes. Please contact the branch at 250-768-4369 for full information.